The buying and dining habits of Hungry Jacks customers have changed post-COVID, prompting the fast-food chain to reconsider its plans and build a dual-lane drive-thru section in Kedron and two other Brisbane sites, instead of refurbishing the indoor dining facilities.
In a statement, the management of Hungry Jacks said that they want to respond to the growing needs of customers for quick and convenient food service, following an analysis of their operations in late 2020. The management said that there were fewer customers indoors due to the pandemic but their online and drive-thru sales have increased.
Hungry Jacks Kedron, Annerley and Algester will be the first chain stores to get the dual-lane drive-thru facility, pending approval from the Brisbane City Council (DA A005641466). It’s unclear how many other outlets will be undergoing changes after the first three sites.
As a result of the expansion, the Kedron site on 332 Gympie Road will lose six carparks but the new drive-thru will be able to accommodate 18 queued cars at a time.
The Annerley location will lose just one parking spot for a dual-lane drive-thru that can accommodate 14 cars. On the other hand, Hungry Jacks Algester will lose 13 carparks in favor of a drive-thru lane that can have 17 queued cars.
A new swim school has been submitted for inclusion at an approved shopping, food, and medical centre development in Upper Kedron. The neighbourhood centre, to be called Ellendale Retail Centre, is situated along Canvey Road, Levitt Road and Honeyeater Street.
The development application (DA A005625123) proposes the inclusion of an Indoor Sport and Recreation site within a row of shops and a health care service facility.
“The proposal adequately manages the impact on the amenity and character of adjacent uses in the locally with respect to the overall outcomes of the zone,” the developer Town Planning Alliance stated.
“The new Indoor Sport and Recreation Facility requires 15 spaces, meaning this application proposes a shortfall of 5 spaces. The swim school will operate at off peak times for the centre and therefore mitigate the shortfall.”
Photo Credit: PD Online/Brisbane City CouncilPhoto Credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council
Meanwhile, a few residents have welcomed the planned town centre but expressed a need for a small green grocer and bakery. They also said that having a new medical facility with a chemist will be a huge help to the residents who have to drive miles away to get their prescriptions filled out.
However, one resident raised a question about the water quality and wildlife on Cedar Creek.
“What work will occur to ensure this precinct does bit adversely impact the Creek?” the resident asked.
Construction of Ellendale Retail Centre has not yet started. The Council approved the site on 20 Nov 2020 (DA A005343816) but will still decide on the separate application for the pool facility’s addition.
Although the pandemic hasn’t made things easy for the food and retail industry, a family-owned neighbourhood shop on Kedron Park Road, has grown against the odds. Managed by mother and daughter pair Julie and Meg Hopkins, Coddle & Cohas moved to a new site in Wooloowin and expanded their business.
Coddle & Co now sits just across the road from their old home. After the pair saw the opportunity to take on a bigger site, it didn’t take long for them to push through with the expansion.
Coddle & Co is a cafe specializing in homemade cakes and delightful brunches but it’s also a gift shop and a garden store all rolled into one.
Photo Credit: Facebook
The new space, which opened at the end of August, is double their old size and has enabled Julie and Meg to expand their community library. It now has a dedicated reading space and a larger display of their lifestyle items for sale.
“Coming into our shop is an extension of visiting our home,” the pair said. “Careful selection of beautiful plants and affordable gifts means a visit to Coddle and Co. is a fulfillment of the senses. Everything in the store can be beautifully gift wrapped for no extra charge.”
Photo Credit: FacebookPhoto Credit: Facebook
Julie said that neighbourhood stores and suburban cafes are reviving and thriving in this pandemic because shoppers don’t want to be in shopping centres. People who work from home enjoy a break of coffee and cakes at uncrowded local village shops.
Coddle & Co also hasn’t had any problems with social distancing customers, who obligingly line up for their takeaways. The store has also introduced a range of breakfast items to go from BRKFST.
Photo Credit: Facebook
For trading hours and store updates, follow the shop’s Facebook page. The cafe is on the Skip App for ordering in advance to collect at their coffee window.
We love everything about Coddle & Co from the amazing gifts on offer, perfectly brewed coffee and delicious treats too. Most of all, we love sharing our morning with a welcome smile and lovely chat from Meg and Jules.
Cassie Mathewson, Facebook
Those ladies really know how to make a coffee! Along with a wonderful plethora of knick-knacks and beautiful trinkets for your viewing or purchasing pleasure. It even has a community library so you can take/leave books at your own disclosure! And don’t even get me started on the toasted sandwiches…How can someone make a simple toasted Ham & Cheese taste so bloody fantastic!
Cory Sillence, Google Reviews
I stop here almost every Monday for a coffee and a quick bite and to do some work. Consistently delicious coffee, warm and welcoming faces and delicious toasties! Their gifts also make it easy to shop for friends’ birthdays.
Backyard fire pits in Brisbane are back to being illegal after the completion of the three-month trial. However, a survey from the Brisbane City Council to determine if fire pits and braziers should be permanently allowed drew over 7,500 responses. About 96 percent of these responses favor having the fire pits.
In May, a resident from Kedron petitioned the council to reconsider the fire pit rules and the $266 fine. Darren Mitchell’s petition received more than a thousand signatures and sparked Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s decision to introduce the trial for the winter season.
Mr Schrinner, however, reminded residents to “take notice and show respect for their neighbours” if they were to cook food in the fire pit.
More information about the fire pit rules
Prior to the trial, Brisbane residents need to secure permits or follow an extensive list of specific guidelines for fire pits for safety and environmental reasons. Residents complained as they started receiving notices and fines for setting fire pits at the height of the coronavirus lockdown.
In April, officers from the Council knocked on the door of an Oxley home where a family was cooking marshmallows in a small fire pit on rocks. Kirsty George and her kids were camping in their backyard for the Easter weekend. In their 12 years of living in the neighbourhood, they never received a complaint about their fire pit until that Sunday.
The Council officer told Ms George that their neighbours informed them of the excessive smoke. Ms George said that the fire pit rules were “obviously not something that’s widely known” but she obliged the request and put the backyard fire out with water.
“If that’s the rule, then people need to know about it. If you walk around the streets at the moment, every couple of houses has one,” the mum said on social media. “And especially with a lockdown at the moment, everyone’s trying to create something special and fun for their kids or themselves. There’s only so much you can stare at your four walls.”
Photo Credit: Free-Photos/Pixabay
Following the trial, the Council thanked the residents for their positive response and for demonstrating responsible use of the fire pits.
“Council will now consider all the feedback received from the community before announcing the outcome of the trial. Please note the Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2009, which limits backyard fires in residential areas now applies,” the Council stated.
Padua College and Mount Alvernia College in Kedron jointly submitted a development application seeking to transform the former Brisbane City Council Stafford Depot into a sports, cultural, trade and education precinct that will also benefit Saint Anthony’s Primary School. If approved, the said facility should provide multiple sports and educational areas that will deliver significant value to the North Brisbane community.
The masterplan (A005516358) includes the construction of an eight-lane running track, two gaming fields and several indoor game courts. The site will also have pools with tiered spectator seating, a community hall, and classrooms for arts and creative activities, as well as other educational programs.
The education precinct proposal also includes relocating the Franciscan Colleges Instrumental Program (FCIP). Padua College, Mount Alvernia College and Saint Anthony’s Primary School often collaborate for the FCIP and this plan will bring the students to one central location instead of travelling between schools.
Photo Credit: PD Online/Brisbane City CouncilPhoto Credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council
However, the project might evolve once further deliberations and consultations on how to best use the site is underway. A potential performing arts centre, a STEM and industrial skills facility, a garden, as well as a childcare centre, could be added to the original plan.
The primary applicants are open to amendments and modifications and will periodically lodge additional development plans, when necessary.
“The proposal is considered to provide a significant improvement to the residential amenity of the locale on the basis that the proposed education facilities primarily consists of nonresidential sensitive uses, in comparison to the previous non-residential uses of the site being the BCC Stafford depot and Stafford Quarry, which had greater potential to adversely impact the surrounding residential neighbourhoods,” the applicants’ consultant, Planning Initiatives, stated.“Education facilities are considered consistent and complementary with the locale given the proximity of the site to the nearby existing school campuses.”
Padua College and Mount Alvernia College bought the Stafford Depot property from the Council in 2019 for its planned expansion. In a letter to the students’ parents, Mark McSweeney and Michael O’Brien, the school board chairmen, said that they will come up with a masterplan for the “long-term future” of this education precinct.
Missing food icon Mary Kios’s homecooked sauces and Mediterranean food? More than 18 months since closing shop in Nundah, North Brisbane’s favorite deli shop owner is back in business with Mary K at a new location in Stafford.
Ms Kios, who ran Get Fresh Deli at the Toombul Shopping Centre for 12 years, decided to reopen because she missed her customers. Her hiatus proved just how much food service is her life.
Ms Kios said some of her loyal customers often come up to her, when she’s out shopping, to ask when she’s coming back. She realized that having her store made her the happiest because it allowed her to connect with her “family” — her customers.
Mary K Fresh Fine Foods offers a gratifying selection of high quality eats that the old deli used to trade. However, Ms Kios is also adding new epicurean delights, as well as more cheese and wine staples, as the store develops its menu. The Nundah food trader also has plans to introduce Indigenous foods to her revived business.
“Great to see the Stafford Road precinct continue to come alive! I dropped into Mary K. Fresh Fine Foods today to pick up some beautiful Italian food,” Councillor Fiona Hammond said on Facebook on her visit to the Stafford store. “Small and Family businesses like this are the backbone of our community and our economy. Drop in for some delicious treats when you’re going past next!”
Photo Credit: Mary K Fresh Fine Foods/FacebookPhoto Credit: Mary K Fresh Fine Foods/Facebook
Ms Kios got her training in the food industry from her Greek migrant parents after they opened a milk and snack bar in Kelvin Grove in 1954. Twenty years later, she went into the catering business and served VIPs in the government, the corporate world and the entertainment industry.
Mary K officially started the business last 5 Aug 2020 at 240 Stafford Rd. Check their Facebook page for the store’s trading hours.
The first phase of the Bradbury Park improvement project is now open! Kedron residents can now enjoy the magical forest and scooter track, which were completed in mid-July 2020.
The Magic Forest located on the southern side of the netball courts is a small nature play area nestled among the existing trees. This nature play area is designed to encourage kids’ imagination and curiosity. It is designed for children ages 3-10 years supervised by parents and carers.
The looped scooter track is at the north side of the existing dog off-leash area. It is around 200 metres long and is designed to cater to different abilities. An area is provided for those seeking more challenging scooter run. This part of the scooter track will have a bypass option for the less experienced riders.
We’re focused on actions that boost our local economy by creating new jobs for residents and that’s why we’re rolling…
The council is now seeking a contractor for the next phase of the improvement plan for Bradbury Park. The next phase will involve the design and construction of a playscape and other major improvements.
Proposed changes include:
A large play space for challenging play for children aged 10-15
New grass area with picnic facilities including shelters, seating, and electric barbecue equipment
Car park upgrade with 40-50 spaces
New basketball half-court
New connecting pathways
New driveway off Batten Street
New bus and passenger drop-off zone
New toilet block
Construction of the major upgrades is expected to start in 2021, pending budget allocation.
For more information about the project, contact the city council or the project team:
call the project team on 1800 884 681during business hours
The little explorers can go on outdoor adventures again as the Bush Kindy event is happening at the Downfall Creek Bushland Centre in McDowall.
A range of nature-based sensory play and activities are in store for kids ages 0-5 years. Parents and carers can keep the kids entertained as they get their hands dirty through guided bushwalks, nature play, art ‘n’ craft, storytime, and more at the surroundings of Raven Street Reserve.
The free event is a must-do for every Brisbane kid, and it is also an excellent time for the parents to relax in the beautiful bushland and wetland environment.
Attendees are requested to wear a wide-brimmed hat, secure and fully enclosed walking shoes, sun-smart clothes, sunscreen, and insect repellant. There are no food outlets on site, so kids should also bring their own drinking water and snack or packed lunch.
Booking is required via Eventbrite to join this activity.
Meeting Point is at the Downfall Creek Bushland Centre.
The Brisbane suburbs with the most proportion of residents that are reliant on the JobKeeper Payment scheme relative to all postcodes in Australia, including Kedron, have been revealed.
The JobKeeper Payment, introduced on 30 March 2020, is a government subsidy scheme aimed at supporting businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Under the scheme, eligible employers, sole traders, and other business entities can apply to receive a fortnightly wage subsidy of $1,500 per eligible employee.
The Treasury Department expects the Jobkeeper Payment, which is set to be terminated on 27 September 2020, to benefit around 3.5 million employees.
To map out the suburbs/postcodes where residents are particularly reliant on the Jobkeeper handouts, consultancy firm Taylor Fry analysed takeup data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the latest Australian population.
Among the top-tier Brisbane suburbs was Kedron, which according to the latest annual Taxation Statistics report from ATO registered an average taxable income (2016-2017 income year) of $67,082.
Based on the findings, two trends have emerged. The first trend points to postcodes with a high concentration of residents belonging in the workforce and are still employed. These locations have a higher likelihood of having a bigger portion of its residents relying on the JobKeeper payment.
The second trend reveals the impact that the eligible industries have on the payment subsidy scheme. Severely affected middle-income earners in sectors like retail, hospitality, and accommodation are more likely to rely on the JobKeeper.
Photo: Taylor Fry / https://taylorfry.com.au
As shown in the heat map, the relative reliance of suburbs/postcodes, with a score of 90 – 100 decile, are represented in darkest red. These are the 10 percent of Australian postcodes that are likely to have the highest proportion of residents receiving the JobKeeper payment.
Meanwhile, the neighbourhoods that scored 1 – 10 decile, shown in darkest green color, represent the 10 percent of Australian postcodes that are likely to have the lowest proportion of residents reliant on the $1,500-per-fortnight payment.
According to Taylor Fry’s JobKeeper heat map, the other neighbourhoods that scored a 90 – 100 decile apart from Kedron/Gordon Park include Paddington/Milton, Belmont/Gumdale, Coorparoo, Greenslopes, Murarrie, Morningside/Seven Hills, Rochedale/Burbank, Wakerley, and Wynnum West/Hemmant.
The nation’s unemployment rate rose to 7.1 percent in May, the highest level recorded since October 2001, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The figure is higher compared to 6.4 percent recorded in April. An additional 227,000 people lost their jobs across Australia on top of the 600,000 in April, bringing the total to 835,000 since March 2020.
Victoria recorded the largest drop in employment with 70,800 people losing their jobs, followed by New South Wales with 43,900 lost jobs. Western Australia and Queensland also recorded a decrease in employment, down by 30,200 and 28,100, respectively.
Last week I wrote to the fed govt asking they #KeepJobKeeper going beyond September.
This week the @GrattanInst backed our position that's shared by thousands of QLD workers.
The COVID crisis won't be resolved in weeks or months. We need a long-term jobs solution from Canberra. pic.twitter.com/bF0cnzkYwO
Treasurer Cameron Dick appealed to the federal government to extend the JobKeeper program stating that the pandemic will not be resolved in a matter of weeks or months and thus long-term jobs solutions need to be in place. In his letter to Josh Frydenberg, Treasurer of Australia, Mr Dick said that the Jobkeeper payments are “playing a critical role in maintaining connections between employers and workers.”
Mr Dick added that the JobKeeper Payment scheme is instrumental in mitigating the impacts of the recession and in helping the economy recover from the downturn. To realize this, however, this scheme needs to be implemented “beyond the original six-month timetable.”
“One of the major risks to ensuring Australia’s effective economic recovery and supporting jobs across the country, including in Queensland, is a premature withdrawal of key Australian Government support measures, including JobKeeper, from the economy,” Mr Dick said.
“I am extremely concerned about the potential economic and social impacts any premature cessation of JobKeeper may have on many thousands of Queensland businesses and hundreds of thousands of Queensland workers that have been accessing JobKeeper to hep survive this crisis,” he said.
Ferny Grove State High School stepped up in a major way to help two major hospitals and a Brisbane clinic, by using the school’s 3D printers to help produce face shields for medical frontliners in the battle against COVID-19.
Photo Credit: Ferny Grove State High School
3D-Printed Face Shields
The morning of April 2nd would have been just another day at work for Industrial Design and Agriculture Technology Head Corey Gieskens, had it not been for a call from Nick Aroney, a local medical practitioner, Nick Aroney. Mr Aroney asked if Ferny Grove State High School can help them by 3D printing face shields, in partnership with Metro North Hospital Service & The Common Good Au.
After an exchange of files and designs, Mr Gieskens and his team went to work, using four 3D printers from the school’s STEM labs and three 3D printers of their Design labs to print parts for the face shields.
The team of 30 people, manning the seven 3D printers in the school to produce half the requested quantity, and tapped members of the school community with access to 3D printers to produce the rest, under Mr Gieskens’ supervision.
Heeding another call from The Prince Charles Hospital, this time for 150 face shields, Mr Giesken also proudly shared that their team, working with other members of the school community, was able to produce the requisite quantity in less than four days.
The school has also successfully assembled full shields, for a coronavirus testing clinic in Brisbane. Using 3D-printed strips, rubber bands and clear acetate sheets used by the school for their overhead projectors, the team was able to assemble full face shields.
Tanya Pilbersek, Shadow Minister for Education, recognised the school’s efforts through social media.
Sustainable and Comfortable
Medical personnel at the Intensive Care Units of hospitals typically have to wear their face shields for at least eight hours on shift, so comfort and protection are important to them. Face shields protect the wearers against droplet infection, more so when used to supplement face masks.
The school printed the plastic strips that are used at the top of the face shields. 3D-printed strips from FGSHS feature a wider strip at the top, each taking almost 4 hours to print.
Shields with a wider band at the top are more comfortable to wear and can be re-used, two important details that frontliners consider very helpful and that Mr Gieskens and his team are particularly proud of.
“In our design department we talk a lot about sustainability and recycling. It meets that ethos really nicely,” he said.
A few days before they started making face shields, school personnel led by Miss Cleary and Miss Durkin, along with Mr Gieskens, had also assembled a team to sew face masks for a local medical surgery.
If you have a 3D printer at home, some PLA material, and want to help, you may email Mr Gieskens at cgies5@eq.edu.au and he will send you the print files.
Likewise, if you are a keen sewer and want to assist in making face masks, please email Mr Gieskens for a pattern and their how-to guide.
